Effective May 11, 2009, the Postal Service™ is revising Mailing Standards of the United States Postal Service, International Mail Manual (IMM®) subchapters 210, 220, 230, 240, 260, and 290 to properly identify international mail categories sealed and not sealed against inspection by the U.S. Postal Service®.
These revisions will provide clarity and guidance to our employees in determining which international mail may or may not be opened for inspection. These revisions will also more closely align our international mailing standards with the Postal Regulatory Commission (PRC) Mail Classification Schedule (MCS) and definitions provided at 39 C.F.R. section 233.
Mailing Standards of the United States Postal Service, International Mail Manual (IMM)
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2 Conditions for Mailing
210 Global Express Guaranteed
211 Description
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[Renumber 211.3 as 211.4. Insert new 211.3 as follows:]
211.3 Mail Sealed Against Inspection
Global Express Guaranteed (GXG) mailpieces containing only documents are sealed against inspection. Global Express Guaranteed mailpieces containing non-documents are not sealed against inspection. Regardless of physical closure, the mailing of Global Express Guaranteed mailpieces containing non-documents constitutes consent by the mailer to inspection of the contents.
211.4 Global Express Guaranteed Service
[Revise new 211.4 as follows:]
Global Express Guaranteed (GXG) service may be used for shipments that contain documents and general correspondence for which no duty is assessed by the customs authority of the destinating country or for shipments that contain non-documents, including merchandise for which duty may be assessed by the customs authority of the destinating country. See the listing of destinating countries in 213 for specific availability.
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220 Express Mail International
221 General
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[Renumber 221.3 and 221.4 as new 221.4 and 221.5. Insert new 221.3 as follows:]
221.3 Mail Sealed Against Inspection
Express Mail International mailpieces are sealed against inspection.
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230 Priority Mail International
231 General
[Revise 231 to read as follows:]
231.1 Description
Priority Mail International is considered a parcel stream for mail exchange purposes, with the exception of the flat-rate envelope and the small flat-rate box.
231.2 Eligibility
Written correspondence having the nature of current and personal correspondence is not permitted generally in Priority Mail International items but may be sent in the Priority Mail International flat-rate envelope or small flat-rate box.
231.3 Mail Sealed Against Inspection
Only the Priority Mail International flat-rate envelope and small flat-rate box are sealed against inspection. Any other Priority Mail International item (e.g., USPS-produced large flat-rate box, USPS-produced Tyvek envelope, or customer-supplied box) is not sealed against inspection. Regardless of physical closure, the mailing of Priority Mail International items constitutes consent by the mailer to inspection of the contents.
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240 First-Class Mail International
241 Description
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[Revise the title of 241.2 to read as follows.]
241.2 Eligibility
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[Renumber current 241.3 through 241.6 as new 241.4 through 241.7. Insert new 241.3 as follows:]
241.3 Mail Sealed Against Inspection
First-Class Mail International mailpieces are sealed against inspection.
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260 Direct Sacks of Printed Matter to One Addressee (M-bags)
261 Description
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261.2 Eligibility
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[Insert new 261.23 as follows:]
261.23 Mail Not Sealed Against Inspection
M-bags are not sealed against inspection. Regardless of physical closure, the mailing of an M-bag, including an airmail, IPA, or ISAL M-bag, constitutes consent by the mailer to inspection of the contents.
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270 Free Matter for the Blind or Other Physically Handicapped Persons
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274 Mail Preparation
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274.4 Packaging
[Revise the title and text of 274.41as follows:]
274.41 Mail Not Sealed Against Inspection
Free Matter for the Blind or Other Physically Handicapped Persons items mailed under 270 are not sealed against inspection (see ASM 274). Items must be prepared in such a way that the contents are protected but inspection of the contents is not hindered.
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290 Commercial Services
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292 International Priority Airmail Service
292.1 Description
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[IMM 292 has been significantly revised for the upcoming May 11 edition, and it will include the following section:]
292.12 Mail Sealed Against Inspection
With the exception of M-bags (see 261.23), IPA mailpieces are sealed against inspection.
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293 International Surface Air Lift Service
293.1 Description
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[IMM 293 has been significantly revised for the upcoming May 11 edition, and it will include the following section:]
293.12 Mail Sealed Against Inspection
With the exception of M-bags (see 261.23), ISAL mailpieces are sealed against inspection.
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We will incorporate these revisions into the next printed version of the IMM and into the monthly update of the online IMM, which is available via Postal Explorer® at http://pe.usps.com.
— Mailing Standards,
Pricing, 5-7-09
